Moving forward...with a beer in hand

So it has come to my attention that a new year has begun as peer through the dark bellows of my cellar pub. I have enjoyed some wonderful beers this year in addition to my renewed love for good Whisky and Bourbon.  Some of the beers that stand out for me are ones such as Alaskan Brewing Company's Baltic Porter...Delicious to the point of being ridiculous.  Then there is a the dark bog of a beer, Founders Porter... It seems more like a stout, but since I am looking at my calories, I am fine with calling this one a porter.  We have had such a powerful move forward in the craft brewing scene here in Madison this last year.  With such additions a House of Brews, the new and improved Ale Asylum, Karben4 Brewing and One Barrel Nano Brewing.  You heard it here... Madison is the hot bed of craft brewing in Wisconsin.  New Glarus visited the Capital and brought back beer (yeah Deb).  The Great Taste of the Midwest celebrated 26 years of blissfully sharing craft beer.  I hope that this year brings more beery things and joy to all who love the fermented.
Drink Well,

Stefan

Summer Time Beerfliction....

So summer is near upon most of the nation (except here in Wisconsin, where spring has decided to join us) and the palate beckons the barley soda that is beer.... I have made somewhat of a full circle in the journey that is beer appreciation.  I am now enamoured with the resinous flowers that dance across the palate within IPA's and DIPA's.  For a long time, I wained away from these beers feeling that they had become too "mainstream" and popular with beer knurds... how wrong I was.  Sometimes the realization of what you love can be clouded by the interwebs and blogs professing a certain style of brand of beer.   Mind you, I am still searching for new beers, blending old favorites... but for now I am finding my way back to the hoppy bine and savoring the path.  It could be that IPA's are a working man/woman's beer... so damned refreshing when you have been busting your arse on some home project or helping the neighbors move in on a brutally hot day.  Or perhaps it is the notion that you are partaking in a renaissance of sorts with regard to emerging craft brewers as they try and one up each other with a bigger monster.  In America we tend to gravitate to Bigger is better philosophy...  My guess is that I will one day wake up and grab the bitter by the bottle and realize my woes...but for now bring me thy hop and malt to comfort me.... 
Stay Hoppy and Beery my friends,

Stefan

PS> I am on assignment in the Rocky Mountain State soon... will report back on those high altitude beers from the mile high state.

Bruxelles a place to think while you have a drink

As I sit at Moeder Lambic Fontinas and enjoy a quiet beer (Band of Brothers-De La Senne), I cannot help but wonder at just how small this global beer community has become. We have at our availability amazing beers from all corners of the globe. We now travel to beery destinations instead of happening upon them. We utilize on-line guides to tell us what to drink because some beer swilling fool tells us it is a "99" rating. I cannot help but feel that some of the mystery and magic has been lost. What I am referring to is the simple moment when one discovers a pub or a beer that brings a smile of unexpected enjoyment. The beer world is changing at a fast pace and getting swept up into some sort of machine that concerns itself with global markets and profit. Rest assured there are those who are in the resistance movement and will defend beer history and purity to the last fizzy drop.

Beer well,

Stefan

Saison...A Belgian Enigma...

So have you ever asked yourself, and I mean truly asked yourself what exactly is a Belgian Saison? It seems to have many answers to the example, but how do you know and see that which is Saison? I am sure that tucked away in your cerebellum there is a notion of the example....But how does it fit into what we define as the style...what is style anyway? I am on a mission from the beer god Himself to see if I can answer this question or try to come close...

Beer well my friends!

Stefan

Now that spring is supposedly here....

Every year when the snow melts back and the robins chirp has returned, I find myself in a beery quandry. What do I drink to celebrate the onset of warmer temperatures, the returning sun and most importantly the ability to brew outside once again. Now for many hard and fast loyalists, the onset of spring means "Maibock" or Helles Bock. Now I am not opposed to such beers, but I feel that one can be constrained by such traditions. What about a lovely Wit beer or a tart refreshing Kriek to welcome the sun? My point is we should drink and enjoy what we want and not because some old kloistered monk says we should. We have at our reach an abundance of amazing beers from the US as well as the global market. Try something new....try something that you would love to drink. I for one have comeback to the beloved hop focused beers after a long hiatus. Perhaps you should also comeback to something that you enjoyed all those beers ago....

Beer well,

Stefan

PS- I am off on assignment to Brussels next week, will report when I am able.

Ok...time for a bit o blog....

Well now that the new year is upon us once again....I feel the need to write something beery and to show you a few preliminary glimpses of the beer cellar in the new house. 2011 was a year of travel and a great deal of work stress...what better way to deal with the heavy loads with a fine ale in the cellar. It seemed a monumental task moving all of my beers and wines to the new house, but they have settled in just swell. The wines they sit quietly and dream of a future date, while the beers sit pensively as their demise will arrive much sooner. It was a blast to review all the wines and the beers when I restocked the shelves... It is always interesting to find forgotten bottles that have now come into their own. Ask your self this question... "what beers made you smile from 2011"? Ask yourself, what beers will make you smile in the coming year....More stories to come from my last trip to Japan.

Stay Beery my friends,

Stefan

The cellar has moved to a new resting place....

Well it has been sometime since I last danced on the keys about beer and spirits. We moved house and now are located in a new abode in which there is potential for a cellar of sorts. My thoughts are now continuous and like a scheming engineer, I am planning my next step. Of course there are the 1000 other projects that my wife would have me tackle first....However one can scheme and dream while repairing dishwashers and toilets non? More to come my friends...be certain of that...

Cheers,

Stefan